Theology

5 Things I’ve Learned About Evangelizing Young People

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Guest Post By: Caleb Burbach, Founder of the Creedo App

​For the past few years, I’ve worked as a Catholic missionary on a college campus. Most of what I know about evangelization has come from conversations with students in Bible studies, over coffee, after Mass, or sometimes just from walking up to someone on campus and seeing where the conversation goes.

At the same time, I’ve spent the last year building Creedo, a Catholic learning app. That has given me another perspective on the same question. I get to see what people actually want to learn about the faith, where they get stuck, and what gets them interested enough to keep going. I certainly haven’t figured out how to evangelize an entire generation, but I have learned a few things from trying.

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An 1113 Word Interview with Dr. Robert Shaffern about Saint Peter

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Dr. Robert Shaffern, via phone on August 21st, 2026. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What makes your account of Peter’s life different from those already written?

One of  the main things is that I portrayed Peter in his context and in his circumstance. He had a family, business partners, he was a man who had a lot of ordinary things to look after. After the calling of Jesus, Peter received more responsibilities and he handled those gracefully. I think Catholic dads would relate to him.

We have a few scenes where it shows the ordinariness of Peter (1st century Jewish fisherman in Galilee). Peter is a story of nature and grace. By nature he was a good man; by grace he became a saint. 

One of the things of the denial story that has struck me is that Peter nearly pulled it off. The other disciples fled when Jesus was arrested, but Peter and John followed from a distance. When he was confronted by the courtyard worker (in the “11th hour”) he denied Jesus. 

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From Tax Collector to Apostle: Embracing God’s Unexpected Call to Redemption

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God calls you where you are.

For the Apostle Matthew, he was a publican (a tax collector).

What emotions come up when you think of an IRS agent?

What about tax season?

“Unfortunately, you owe X dollars this year?”

Now, imagine if God publicly called a person  to be in his inner circle of twelve??

A man whose job it was to take your hard-earned money and collect it for a corrupt government.

It might stir up resentment, confusion, or dismay to mention a few of a thousand emotions that would likely be going through your mind.

But God’s ways are often mysterious and it may take time before we realize the plan He has for others and ourselves.

I can’t even begin to fully understand what some of Jesus’ early followers thought when he died and later named Matthew to be an apostle.

An unworthy tax collector. Money-hungry, an agent of the Roman Empire. That’s who Jesus called to follow him 2000 years ago.

Now, the name Matthew translates as “Gift from God”. His conversion is certainly a blessing along with his account of Jesus’ life in his Gospel.

No matter where you’re at in life, God will meet you.

You just have to be open to His call. 🙏

P.S. How has God worked in your life in an  unexpected and merciful way?

P.P.S. Here’s a Holy Haiku I created inspired by the witness of the evangelist-apostle.

Enjoy!

Related Links

3 Similarities I Share with my Namesake— Saint Matthew

Saint Matthew (Apostle and Evangelist)

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Jesus, Our Faithful Friend

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on the Sunday 25th Week in Ordinary Time Readings

When I was a young boy, my grandfather told me that Jesus was his best and faithful friend. I did not understand. How could someone we cannot see become our closest friend? Still, his words remained with me.

As I grew older and turned to Jesus in prayer, I began to understand. I discovered that Jesus was also my faithful friend. Whenever I called upon Him, He reminded me that I was not alone. His presence quieted my mind and brought peace to my heart. The more I received His love, the more I wanted to share it.  To me, the presence of Jesus is a grace from God—a gift I hadn’t earned, but one that met me exactly where I was.

Years later, my grandfather was nearing the end of his life. I visited him in hospice and, sensing this might be our last time together, called my brother to come and be with us. We sat beside his bed, sharing memories, telling stories, and laughing. Although our grandfather could no longer speak as he once had, we knew he was listening. In our hearts, we could almost hear him laughing with us. 

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3 Similarities I Share with my Namesake— Saint Matthew

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Editor’s note: Article originally published on September 23, 2018.

According to Rick Riordan, author of the acclaimed young adult series Percy Jackson, “Names had power!” Among the first questions people ask parents upon the birthday of a child is “which name did you choose? Names also possess a meaning.

Now you may or may not be aware of the meaning or purpose of the name your parents choose for you. If you are not aware, it would be an interesting conversation to discover why they choose a particular name. If there was no particular reason, it would still be interesting to look up the history of your namesake or the literal meaning of it.

The general reason for my name selection is due to my parents being Catholic. It’s customary for Catholics to name their children after one of the saints.

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Saint James the Greater: Apostle, Pilgrim, and Model for Evangelization

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Sponsored: This article is made possible by Follow My Camino, supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.

Saint James the Greater, son of Zebedee and Salome, was one of the first called by Jesus along the shores of Galilee. Along with his brother John, he left behind nets, boats, and family to follow the Lord immediately. Scripture captures this moment with striking simplicity: “They left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:20). That willingness to leave everything behind is at the heart of why James remains such a powerful figure for pilgrims today.

James was part of Christ’s “inner circle,” along with Peter and John. He witnessed miracles and mysteries most did not—the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration, and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. These moments of glory and suffering shaped James into a disciple who understood that to follow Christ was to share both in His triumph and in His Cross.

Nicknamed with his brother as “Boanerges,” or “sons of thunder,” James had a fiery temperament. At one point, he even asked Jesus if he should call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Him (Luke 9:54). Yet this zeal, when purified by grace, became a driving force for evangelization. James eventually grew into a disciple who no longer sought honor for himself but laid down his very life for Christ. Around A.D. 44, James was martyred by King Herod Agrippa, making him the first of the Apostles to receive the crown of martyrdom.

The journey from fisherman to martyr reminds us that holiness is not instant perfection but faithful transformation. Like James, we too are called to be formed by both the joys and trials of following Christ.

The Camino and the Legacy of Saint James

James’ story does not end with his martyrdom. According to ancient tradition, his remains were carried miraculously to Galicia in Spain. There, at Compostela—meaning “field of the star”—pilgrims began to venerate his tomb as early as the 9th century. This place became the heart of one of Christianity’s greatest pilgrimages: the Camino de Santiago, or “Way of Saint James.”

The Camino quickly became more than a route to a shrine. It was, and still is, a living metaphor for the Christian journey. Pilgrims walk with blisters, burdens, and unexpected companions, just as Christians make their way through life with joys, sufferings, and surprises. To walk the Camino is to echo James’ original act of leaving behind nets and securities to follow the Lord wherever He leads.

For centuries, countless faithful—from medieval peasants to modern seekers—have made their way across Spain to Compostela. Some walk for penance, some for healing, others simply for the chance to rediscover faith through the rhythm of step after step. The Camino remains a spiritual school of humility, conversion, and encounter.

This is where groups such as Follow My Camino play a special role today. They help modern pilgrims enter into this centuries-old tradition with guidance, preparation, and support. For those longing to walk in the footsteps of Saint James but uncertain where to begin, such accompaniment makes the pilgrimage more accessible while preserving its deeply spiritual heart.

Symbols of a Pilgrim Apostle

Christian iconography developed rich symbols for Saint James that still resonate with pilgrims. He is often depicted with a wide-brimmed hat, a staff for walking, and a scallop shell. Each of these speaks to his enduring role as the patron of pilgrims.

The staff represents both physical and spiritual support. It is the reminder that we do not walk alone: God’s grace sustains us on the road. The shell, perhaps the most famous emblem, became the badge of those who had completed the Camino. Just as water fills the grooves of a scallop shell from different directions but flows into one point, the Camino gathers pilgrims from all over the world to converge at Compostela, united in Christ.

In some depictions, James appears on horseback as Santiago Matamoros, a figure connected to medieval legends. While this image reflected the historical struggles of the time, the deeper truth it represents today is the triumph of faith over fear. James remains a symbol of courage and steadfastness, urging us not to lose heart in the face of trials.

Even in Orthodox iconography, James is pictured with scrolls or books, emphasizing his identity as a bearer of the Gospel. Whether carrying a pilgrim’s staff or a holy book, the iconography always highlights his dual mission: to walk and to proclaim. He is both traveler and evangelist, disciple and teacher, reminding us that every Christian journey is meant to overflow into witness.

Get your pilgrim Tiny Saint James today.

Saint James as a Model for Evangelization

What makes Saint James a compelling model for evangelization is not his perfection but his transformation. At first, he was ambitious, fiery, even impulsive. Over time, through closeness to Jesus and the power of the Spirit, he became courageous, faithful, and willing to give everything—even his life.

His story shows that evangelization begins with listening to Christ’s call and stepping out in faith, even if we don’t have everything figured out. James immediately left his nets behind, a reminder that discipleship often requires surrendering comforts and securities. Evangelizers today can take inspiration from that same readiness to go where Christ sends.

James also shows us the importance of zeal. While his thunderous temperament needed refining, his passionate heart became an instrument for proclaiming the Gospel with courage. Evangelization today requires that same blend of passion and humility: a love so great it cannot remain silent, but also a service so humble it always points back to Christ rather than self.

Finally, his connection to pilgrimage reminds us that evangelization is itself a journey. It is not simply about delivering information but about accompanying others step by step, sharing joys and sufferings, and pointing toward the hope found in Christ. Just as pilgrims encourage one another along the Camino, so too evangelizers walk alongside others in faith.

Organizations like Follow My Camino remind us that the physical pilgrimage of Santiago is also an icon of the spiritual pilgrimage every Christian undertakes. Whether we set out on the Camino across Spain or live our daily journey at home, the invitation remains the same: to walk with James in following Christ wholeheartedly and to share that joy with others.

Conclusion: Walking with Saint James

Saint James the Greater’s life is a testament to what it means to follow Christ without reserve. From leaving his nets behind, to standing at the Transfiguration, to sharing in Christ’s agony, to finally drinking the cup of martyrdom, his story embodies the call to discipleship in its fullness.

His association with the Camino de Santiago ensures that his witness continues to inspire millions of pilgrims across centuries. His symbols—the staff, the shell, the book—still speak to us today about the Christian life as a journey of faith, service, and evangelization.

If we long to become better witnesses to the Gospel, we can look to Saint James as our guide. His transformation gives us hope that God can shape our weaknesses into strengths. His zeal encourages us to share the Good News boldly. And his patronage over pilgrims reminds us that every step we take, in prayer or on the road, can bring us closer to Christ.

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Thank you to today’s sponsor! Discover more by visiting Follow My Camino today.

Related Links

Pilgrims of Faith: A Catholic Journey Homeward

There’s More to St. James than Meets the Eye

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